Recording medium reproducing apparatus and method and recording medium recording/reproducing apparatus

Abstract

A recording medium reproducing method is disclosed. At least first quality content data and second quality content data whose quality is lower than the first quality content data have been recorded on a recording medium. In a reproduction mode of the recoding medium, the first quality content data is read from the recording medium. After the first quality content data is decoded, the decoded data is output as output data.

1 . A recording medium reproducing apparatus, comprising: 
 a head portion for reading data from a recording medium on which at least first quality content data and second quality content data have been recorded;    a decode processing portion for receiving an output signal of the head portion and decoding the received output signal; and    a controlling portion for causing the head portion to read the first quality content data from the recording medium, supplying the first quality content data to the decode processing portion, and outputting output data of the decode processing portion in a reproduction mode of the recording medium.    
     
     
         2 . The recording medium reproducing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a conversion processing portion for converting the output data of the decode processing portion into an analog signal in the reproduction mode of the recording medium.    
     
     
         3 . The recording medium reproducing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a processing portion for authenticating a device connected to the apparatus,    wherein when the processing portion has correctly authenticated the device, the output data of the decode processing portion is output to the device connected to the apparatus.    
     
     
         4 . The recording medium reproducing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein in a copy mode for data recorded on the recording medium, the second quality content data is read from the recording medium by the head portion, the second quality content data being supplied to the decode processing portion, output data of the decode processing portion being output.    
     
     
         5 . The recording medium reproducing apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 encryption processing portion for encrypting the output data of the decode processing portion,    wherein the output data of the decode processing portion is supplied to the encryption processing portion corresponding to an authenticated result of a device connected to the apparatus.    
     
     
         6 . The recording medium reproducing apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a processing portion for authenticating the device connected to the apparatus,    wherein the controlling portion is configured to control whether to supply the output data of the decode processing portion to the encryption processing portion corresponding to an authenticated result of the processing portion.    
     
     
         7 . A recording medium reproducing method, comprising the steps of: 
 in a reproduction mode of a recording medium on which at least first quality content data and second quality content data whose quality is lower than the first quality content data have been recorded, reading the first quality content data from the recording medium;    decoding the first quality content data which has been read; and    outputting the decoded data as output data.    
     
     
         8 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 converting the decoded data into an analog signal; and    outputting the analog signal.    
     
     
         9 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 authenticating an external device to which the decoded data is output;    when the external device has been correctly authenticated, outputting the decoded data to the external device; and    when the external device has not been correctly authenticated, prohibiting the decoded data from being output.    
     
     
         10 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 in a copy mode of data recorded on the recording medium, reading the second quality content data from the recording medium;    decoding the second quality content data; and    outputting the decoded data.    
     
     
         11 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 authenticating an external device to which the decoded data is output;    when the external device has been correctly authenticated, outputting the decoded data to the external device; and    when the external device has not been correctly authenticated, prohibiting the decoded data from being output.    
     
     
         12 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 authenticating an external device to which the decoded data is output;    encrypting the decoded data corresponding to a type of the external device which is based on the authenticated result; and    outputting the encoded data.    
     
     
         13 . A recording medium recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: 
 a read head portion for reading data from a first recording medium on which at least first quality content data and second quality content data whose quality is lower than the first quality content data have been recorded;    a decode processing portion for receiving an output signal of the header portion and decoding the received output signal;    a recording portion for encoding output data of the decode processing portion so as to record the encoded data to a second recording medium;    a controlling portion for causing the read head portion to read the second quality content data from the first recording medium, supplying the second quality content data to the decode processing portion, supplying output data of the decode processing portion to the recording portion, and recording the output data to the second recording medium in a copy mode of data read from the first record medium.    
     
     
         14 . The recording medium recording and reproducing apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , 
 wherein the controlling portion is configured to cause the read head portion to read the first quality content data from the first recoding medium, supply the first quality content data to the decode processing portion, and output output data of the decode processing portion.    
     
     
         15 . The recording medium recording and reproducing apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a conversion processing portion for converting the output data of the decode processing portion into an analog signal in a reproduction mode of the recoding medium.    
     
     
         16 . A recording medium reproducing method, comprising steps of: 
 in a reproduction mode of a recording medium on which at least first quality content data and second quality content data whose quality is lower than the first quality content data have been encrypted and recorded, reading the first quality content data from the recording medium; and    reproducing the first quality content data.    
     
     
         17 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 decoding the first quality content data which has been encrypted and read from the record medium;    decrypting the decoded data; and    outputting the decrypted data as output data.    
     
     
         18 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of: 
 converting the decrypted data into an analog signal; and    outputting the analog signal.    
     
     
         19 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 authenticating an external device to which the decoded data is output;    when the external device has been correctly authenticated, outputting the decoded data to the external device; and    when the external device has not been correctly authenticated, prohibiting the decoded data from being output.    
     
     
         20 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 in a copy mode for data recorded on the recoding medium, reading the second quality content data which has been encrypted from the recording medium;    decoding the second quality content data which has been encrypted; and    outputting the decoded data.    
     
     
         21 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 authenticating an external device to which the decoded data is output;    when the external device has been correctly authenticated, outputting the decoded data to the external device; and    when the external device has not been correctly authenticated, prohibiting the decoded data from being output.    
     
     
         22 . The recording medium reproducing method as set forth in  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 authenticating an external device to which the decoded data is output;    temporarily decrypting the decoded data corresponding to a type of the external device based on the authenticated result;    re-encrypting the decrypted data; and    outputting the re-encrypted data.